翌朝.
　俺たちは馬車に揺られていた.

　あの後、リーンのお兄さんに「旅費と報酬は十分に出す──頼む、今頼れるのは本当に貴方しかいないのだ」と、頼み込まれてしまったのだ.

「──何事もなければ旅行のようなものなのだが……」とも.

　なんでも、人手不足で俺以外にすぐに確保できる適役は居ないという.
　他にいくらでもいそうなものだが……ヒマなのは俺ぐらい、ということだろうか.

　確かに、迷宮前の工事現場は暫くお休みらしいし、「ドブさらい」依頼で掃除する側溝も、貰った「黒い剣」のおかげで思っていた以上のペースで綺麗になった.
　おまけに今朝はあまりに調子が良かったので、十日分の依頼予約分を一気に掃除してきた.
　当分、掃除の必要はないだろう.
　それを考えると、タイミングとしては本当に丁度良かった.

　俺たちは馬車で王都の北西──山岳地帯の街トロスへと向かい、しばらく滞在することになるらしい.
　その後、特に何も異変がなければそのまま山を越え、隣国『神聖ミスラ教国』へ向かって欲しい、と言われた.
　馬車に同乗するイネスが、その為に必要な書状を持っているという.

　俺が頼まれた仕事の内容としては、ただリーンについていくだけでいいという.
　俺は何をするでもなく、何事もなければ、本当にただの旅行になるらしい.
　なんとも奇妙な依頼だが、俺はそれならば、と承諾した.

「兄が無理を言ってしまって、すみません……行く先で本当に何事もなければいいのですが」
「いや、なんでもないことだ. 依頼料も貰ってるしな」

　今回は、冒険者ギルドを通しての依頼となっている.
　その場で話し合い、それがいいだろうということになった.
　俺の今の冒険者ランクは「F」なので、王都外の素材採取や討伐依頼の受注はできないのだが、ただの付き添いや荷物持ちなら、別にいいという.

　つまり今回、俺はリーンの世話をするお供、お手伝いさんという扱いだ.
　冒険者としてはあまり取り柄のない俺だが、重いものを持ったり運んだりすることだけには自信があるので、その点、確かに適役かもしれない.

　リーンのお兄さんには報酬は言い値で出す、と言われたが、相場がよくわからないので冒険者ギルドのおじさんに任せておいた.
　おじさんには「相当にいい条件で受けてやったから、安心して長旅してこい」と言われたが──正直、金額を言われてもピンとこなかった.

　リーンにも「一緒に来てもらえたら嬉しい」と言われたこともあるし、俺は彼女には昨日のゴブリン退治の借りもある.
　彼女の頼みでもあるなら断る理由はないだろう.

　とはいえ、俺がこの依頼を受けた本当の理由は別にある.
　リーンにも、おじさんにもまだ言ってはいない. 　
　別に秘密というほどのことはないのだが……まさか依頼を受けた動機が──馬車というものに乗ったことがないから、乗ってみたかっただけ──とは、中々言いづらいのだ.

　でも正直なところ、それが俺にとっての一番の報酬だ.

　俺は王都の他の街も、山を降りるときに通りすがった村ぐらいしか見たことがない.
　他の街も、見たい.
　そして今回、運が良ければ他の国へも行けるという.
　そこにも、是非とも行ってみたい.

　俺はとにかく、いろんな場所を旅して回ってみたいのだ.
　本当は、ちゃんと冒険者になって自力で旅して回りたいのだが……それはまだまだ先になりそうだ.
　でも、誰かの付き添いであっても、見聞を広めておくに越したことはない.
　きっといつか一人前の冒険者として旅立つとき、役に立つだろう.

　そんなわけで、今回の旅は俺にとっては願ったり叶ったりの仕事だ.

　As I finished loading food and luggage before departure, I had nothing to do but enjoy the carriage ride in a relaxed and carefree manner.

　The scenery from the window of the carriage was peaceful.
　Wheat fields spread out all around, and the harvest season was about to begin.
　This area is close to the road I took when I came down from the mountains where I lived, but the wheat was still freshly planted and green at that time.

　It's amazing how a change of season can change the scenery.
　Now, as far as the eye can see, there are golden plains - or so it would seem.
　This scenery alone makes me realize how fertile this land is and how rich this country is.
　If I become an adventurer and go on an adventure, I wonder if I'll see this kind of scenery, or many other scenery even more amazing than this.

　I want to see them.

　To the casual observer, my leaning out of the carriage may look like I'm having a good time.
　Because I am.

　But the person sitting at the head of the carriage has a glum look on her face.
　It was Inez, my bodyguard.
　There are three of us in the carriage, her, me, and Lean.

"Lord Noor... I'm really sorry for dragging you into this.

　I looked at her and she apologized.
　I think she's overreacting over a trip, but she seems to have a strong sense of responsibility.
　Perhaps it's natural for her to treat others this way.
　However, she seems to be looking a little pale today.

"...... Are you feeling sick?
"No, I was just thinking about something. ...... I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll take full responsibility for your safety from now on. Don't worry too much.

　No, I'm not too worried about myself. ...... I'm more worried about her condition.
　I'm not too worried about myself.
　In addition, although Inez says that she will be guarding me, her main role will be guarding Leanne.
　She also holds the reins of the horse that pulls the carriage.
　It's a lot of work for such a small group.
　She looks like she's not feeling well, and I can't let her push herself any harder.

No, I'm trying to protect myself as best as I can so as not to cause any trouble. ......

　I don't have much confidence in my skills, but I do have some confidence in my ability to run away.
　I'm not too confident in my skills, but I am somewhat confident in my ability to escape unscathed, even when surrounded by a pack of wolves in the mountains.

"No... I have my shield. It's my job to protect the people around me.
"Shield?

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.
　She's wearing the same silver armor over her maid-like outfit that she wore before.
　There was no helmet on her head, and her golden hair swayed in the wind.

　But right now, there is nothing around her that looks like a shield.
　I don't see any weapons, either.

She doesn't seem to be carrying anything. ......?


You don't have to. In my case. In fact, it's more convenient for me not to have it.
"Well, ......?

　I said, but honestly, I don't know what that means.
　Perhaps sensing my expression, Ines laughed a little.

"Well... let me demonstrate ...... 【Divine Shield】.

　When Inez held up one hand in the air, suddenly, a huge wall of shining light appeared in the air.
　It seemed to be just a light, but it certainly created a wall there.
　The wind coming from the front of the running carriage completely disappeared.

"Wow, ......, so this is your 'shield'.
"Oh, and if anything happens to me, just hide behind this shield of light. It's impervious to most weapons and magic.
Yes, I'll do that.

　I was a little nervous about traveling with just the three of us, but ...... Inez would be a great help.
　She was the spearman who trained me in the training grounds of Lean's house - I think ...... Al ...... Gil ......?　Yes, I remember now.
　She said he was as strong as Lambert.
　According to what Lean told me, he's so skilled that he can kill a dragon single-handedly.
　I guess I'm in a completely different league than the one where I'm struggling against a single goblin.
　If that's the case, then she must be a very strong person too.
　She doesn't need to be bothered by me.

　So I'll just take her word for it and rely on her.

　And so I was enjoying the vast wheat field scenery from the carriage, feeling at ease and like a passenger.

　But...

　I suddenly felt something strange in the vast wheat field scenery I was looking at.

"......?

　If you look closely, you can see a strange path forming in the wheat field.
　I've heard that sometimes strong winds cause crops to fall over and cause damage, but it didn't look like that.
　It was like a path that had been trampled down.

What the hell is that?
"What's ......?　What's wrong?

　At the sound of my voice, Inez looked around the wheat field, but couldn't seem to find anything.
　But I could see it.
　What's that?

　Leanne, who had heard our conversation, came out of the wagon and looked around the wheat field.
　She seems to have seen something.
　Then she looked surprised.

There ...... is definitely something out there...!　I'm not sure what it is.



　Lean used his skill.
　Just like yesterday when she used it on the goblin, a transparent veil was lifted from the spot where she felt a subtle discomfort, and something appeared.

　And there...

　There was a huge black frog-like creature that walked slowly, pacing, and a small boy standing beside it.

　The boy, who had suddenly appeared in the wheat field, looked around and seemed to be surprised by what he saw.
　The frog and the boy's eyes met.
　Then the frog raised its fat paws and looked like it was about to attack the boy.

　Before he could think of anything dangerous, his feet moved.

"Wait, that's...!

　I hear Inez's voice from behind me.

　But I had already used all my strength to run as fast as I could to get to the frog and the boy.